Key points
- Ukraine has returned 200 soldiers from Russian captivity as part of a new exchange.
- Among those released are soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and the State Special Transport Service.
- Defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal have also returned to Ukraine.
- Some of the soldiers had been in captivity since 2022.
- The oldest released soldier is 59, and the youngest is 27.
- Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine has managed to return 6,622 of its citizens.
Ukraine has returned 200 soldiers from Russian captivity as part of the first stage of a large-scale exchange, which took place in accordance with agreements reached during negotiations in Geneva. This was announced by Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights.
Among those released are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular units of the Navy and Territorial Defence Forces, as well as fighters of the National Guard, State Border Guard Service and State Special Transport Service.
Most of them are soldiers and sergeants.
The defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, as well as soldiers who took part in battles in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions, have returned to Ukraine. Some of those released had been held captive since 2022.
The oldest released is 59 years old, the youngest is 27 years old. Another interesting feature: 18 of the returned Defenders celebrated or will celebrate their birthdays in March.
– Dmytro Lubinets.
Some of those returned have serious health problems and require medical assistance. Lubinets noted that most of those released are critically underweight and in a difficult psychological state.
Employees of the Ombudsman’s Office were present at the exchange site and recorded all the necessary details. We are monitoring compliance with international humanitarian law regarding prisoners of war.
– Dmytro Lubinets.
This is the second prisoner exchange in 2026. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been able to bring home 6,622 of its citizens.
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205 military personnel and civilians returned to Ukraine during the exchange
